2026 Trade / FA Thread

[Apex36]

Butters will be looking for a team likely to win a flag within 4 years. That's unlikely to be us.

You probably said the same thing in 2021.

 

[SchuPie]

Shut up, Butters to pies confirmed in my mind, nothing u can do to change it.

I’ve got to say, I’m not a fan of absolutes

Several posters have said he IS going to the Bulldogs but I didn’t think he could sign until FA period
Id prefer, Butters to Bulldogs seems the most likely at this stage
Until then, it’s Houston is going to Carlton

 

[Jen2310]

I’ve got to say, I’m not a fan of absolutes

Several posters have said he IS going to the Bulldogs but I didn’t think he could sign until FA period
Id prefer, Butters to Bulldogs seems the most likely at this stage
Until then, it’s Houston is going to Carlton

I reckon that’s a bit different. Houston wanted to go to Carlton but they instead chose to go to the draft- they couldn’t afford him probably

Would dogs choose the same thing? Unlikely

 

[satanshoof101]

Both Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

and Zac Butters are restricted free agents?

So if GC or PA match our offer we have to force a trade?

I imagine both Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

and Zac Butters would cost about three first rounders each.

Before you come at me, Max is probably not worth three but might cost that.

PA could probably ask for more for Butters, especially with Tasmania coming in.

But as a team who is probably desperate for young talent can we really afford to give up multiple first rounders for one player considering how many holes we have around the ground?

 

[Exambolor]

Both Ben King and Zac Butters are restricted free agents?

So if GC or PA match our offer we have to force a trade?

I imagine both Ben King and Zac Butters would cost about three first rounders each.

Before you come at me, Max is probably not worth three but might cost that.

PA could probably ask for more for Butters, especially with Tasmania coming in.

But as a team who is probably desperate for young talent can we really afford to give up multiple first rounders for one player considering how many holes we have around the ground?

Port are absolutely gonna match any offer no questions asked

 

[No SPIN]

I'm back on the King bandwagon. After today's game we are going to need a genuine key forward to compete against the best. West looks a mile off. Buller will need to improve and McStay is always going to be McStay. I actually think Howes has the most upside. Now don't be mean to old man8c, it's an opinions game

When we had so many guns missing, we naturally diminished the opportunities for fwds to impact- so any conclusions on their prospects needs this context and circumspection IMO.

 

[SchuPie]

I reckon that’s a bit different. Houston wanted to go to Carlton but they instead chose to go to the draft- they couldn’t afford him probably

Would dogs choose the same thing? Unlikely

I get it, but not my point, Jen
He may very well end up at the Bulldogs, he may have said in private, he may say in public at some stage, until he signs, he’s up for grabs

…so therefore I’ll use the Buddy example

 

[SchuPie]

Both Ben King and Zac Butters are restricted free agents?

So if GC or PA match our offer we have to force a trade?

I imagine both Ben King and Zac Butters would cost about three first rounders each.

Before you come at me, Max is probably not worth three but might cost that.

PA could probably ask for more for Butters, especially with Tasmania coming in.

But as a team who is probably desperate for young talent can we really afford to give up multiple first rounders for one player considering how many holes we have around the ground?

This is more the point
UFA and cap space are one thing
RFA and picks are another

We chose to give up first rounders in the past 3 years (rightly / wrongly) at some point we need to pay that bill in terms of selections

 

[satanshoof101]

I'm back on the King bandwagon. After today's game we are going to need a genuine key forward to compete against the best. West looks a mile off. Buller will need to improve and McStay is always going to be McStay. I actually think Howes has the most upside. Now don't be mean to old man8c, it's an opinions game

Maybe JUH gets sick of QLD and is the best we can do considering our circumstances haha

 

[WanderingDude]

Both Ben King and Zac Butters are restricted free agents?

So if GC or PA match our offer we have to force a trade?

I imagine both Ben King and Zac Butters would cost about three first rounders each.

Before you come at me, Max is probably not worth three but might cost that.

PA could probably ask for more for Butters, especially with Tasmania coming in.

But as a team who is probably desperate for young talent can we really afford to give up multiple first rounders for one player considering how many holes we have around the ground?

I hate the high cost. BUT can we afford not to give up the cost? Nick needs wingman. I suspect part of the cost would be a high quality player.

 

[Jen2310]

I get it, but not my point, Jen
He may very well end up at the Bulldogs, he may have said in private, he may say in public at some stage, until he signs, he’s up for grabs

…so therefore I’ll use the Buddy example

That’s fair

Our constant scandals wouldn’t be helping it’s why we struggle to attract many high profile players. The constant attention isn’t for everyone.

 

[No SPIN]

You'd think so but i also think the intense scrutiny the media puts on us also detracts alot of players

Media scrutiny in Adel would be worse.

 

[granniewolf]

I hate the high cost. BUT can we afford not to give up the cost? Nick needs wingman. I suspect part of the cost would be a high quality player.

I don't understand why giving up a high quality player for another is a great idea.
Surely that just leaves another hole to plug.
What high quality players do we have that might be offered?

 

[WanderingDude]

I don't understand why giving up a high quality player for another is a great idea.
Surely that just leaves another hole to plug.
What high quality players do we have that might be offered?

The draft picks for Butters will not be all end of round 1 picks. To get him in the door I suspect a player will be required. Your question is very good. A SA player on our list? McCeery? Going by recent top 50 players we don’t have a player with the required value. It would be potential. It would hurt. I don’t like the cost of Butters. I can’t see it done. That doesn’t mean much when the club manoeuvres.

 

[sr36]

Butters will be looking for a team likely to win a flag within 4 years. That's unlikely to be us.

Not unlikely if we get Butters.

The more likely teams are in Qld - where he doesn't want to live.

 

[danielnajdek]

Don't understand why A grade midfielders wouldn't wanna play alongside Nick.

 

[Jen2310]

Don't understand why A grade midfielders wouldn't wanna play alongside Nick.

We make that excuse all the time but decisions rarely come to playing with a certain player. There are many great players in most teams around the league.

It comes to many factors. The club. The environment. The sell. The role. Whether it’s the highest bidder or other factors. Success.

The attention we get can be a turn off for some.

 

[Apex36]

Both Ben King and Zac Butters are restricted free agents?

So if GC or PA match our offer we have to force a trade?

I imagine both Ben King and Zac Butters would cost about three first rounders each.

Before you come at me, Max is probably not worth three but might cost that.

PA could probably ask for more for Butters, especially with Tasmania coming in.

But as a team who is probably desperate for young talent can we really afford to give up multiple first rounders for one player considering how many holes we have around the ground?

Not sure why people do these weird valuations. The only player I can recall that cost 3 firsts was Jeremy Cameron, they were late first rounders and Geelong received a second rounder back too, and as good as Butters and King are they don’t have the resume Cameron did going in to free agency.

Keep in mind too that if Port finish low on the ladder this year an early pick will hold significantly more value to them than a mid/late first and some picks in the next two ridiculously compromised drafts.

 

[Jen2310]

Not sure why people do these weird valuations. The only player I can recall that cost 3 firsts was Jeremy Cameron, they were late first rounders and Geelong received a second rounder back too, and as good as Butters and King are they don’t have the resume Cameron did going in to free agency.

Keep in mind too that if Port finish low on the ladder this year an early pick will hold significantly more value to them than a mid/late first and some picks in the next two ridiculously compromised drafts.

In terms of compo we now have to keep in mind that it’ll now start after pick 8/9 after the change they are about to put through

 

[sr36]

Not sure why people do these weird valuations. The only player I can recall that cost 3 firsts was Jeremy Cameron, they were late first rounders and Geelong received a second rounder back too, and as good as Butters and King are they don’t have the resume Cameron did going in to free agency.

Keep in mind too that if Port finish low on the ladder this year an early pick will hold significantly more value to them than a mid/late first and some picks in the next two ridiculously compromised drafts.

I think the market has changed. Curnow and Trac just went for a bomb and Hawks couldn't get Merrett done because they weren't willing to pay a bomb. I reckon Butters is worth more than those 3. Admittedly they were all contracted. But Butters won't go to the draft and Port have matching rights, so does the contract really make that big a difference? We'll find out. They're supposedly protecting the first 8 picks in the draft, so Port bombing won't make much of a difference - as you'd think they'd get better than pick 9 in a trade.

 

[sr36]

Media scrutiny in Adel would be worse.

It's different. Adelaide media is all over the Adelaide teams, but it's puff piece after puff piece. They're not creating the negative stories.

 

[stormskye]

Butters leaving is going to form a foundation for a port rebuild. They will want a package that does that. Can’t see them accepting anything less than two low top 10 picks with change. Pretty obvious sell for them knowing he could help win a flag for any club he goes to.

Not to mention their supporters will want blood if they cave. We’d want 3 firsts if he played for us

 

[Jen2310]

Butters leaving is going to form a foundation for a port rebuild. They will want a package that does that. Can’t see them accepting anything less than two low top 10 picks with change. Pretty obvious sell for them knowing he could help win a flag for any club he goes to.

Not to mention their supporters will want blood if they cave. We’d want 3 firsts if he played for us

Agreed.
We can think of it this way- what would we expect if it was Nick contemplating leaving? I’d assume we would want a ransom as well.

 

[granniewolf]

Agreed.
We can think of it this way- what would we expect if it was Nick contemplating leaving? I’d assume we would want a ransom as well.

Agreed, which is why the idea of getting him is unrealistic.

 

[Sea fog]

Agreed, which is why the idea of getting him is unrealistic.

Tend to agree, and tbh 3 first rounders if Butters was 21/22 might be worth it but its a big stretch for us because when was the last time we had a live first rounder? With Tassie coming in, if we were in the lucky spot of having 3 first rounders, we might be able to better shore up our future by using them. There is a bit of talk that King might be less likely to matched by GC because they might be running into salary cap issues down the track with all the great youngsters they have and they will want to keep their home grown products. So if we offered a sum higher enough to put them off matching Ben King could be a cheaper grab and he is a proven key forward unlike our budding ones.